OTTAWA, May 29, 2012 – The ADAPT continuing education program for pharmacists was honoured yesterday with a 2012 Award for Program Excellence from the Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE). ADAPT is a ground-breaking skills development program that helps pharmacists embrace enhanced roles in medication management and collaborative care, and ultimately better care for their patients.

The transformative multimedia patient care skills development program developed collaboratively by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) and the University of Waterloo (uWaterloo), received top marks in the category of Non-Credit University Programming over 48 hours, in the CAUCE annual competition recognizing excellence in program development in university continuing education.

“Rapid changes in Canadian health care, including the emergence of interprofessional primary health care teams and expanding scopes of practice for pharmacists, have led to changes in the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists,” says Phil Emberley, Director of Pharmacy Innovation at CPhA. “By combining best practices in online education, evidence-based content and transformative learning, ADAPT gives pharmacists the specialized knowledge, skills and confidence they need to care for patients in this evolving health care environment. ADAPT is unique in the Canadian pharmacy landscape, and we are very pleased to see it recognized with this award.”

The knowledge and skills that pharmacists gain through ADAPT apply to any setting where pharmacists care directly for patients, according to Cathy Lyder, Coordinator of Professional and Membership Affairs at CSHP. “Hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies and home care,” she explains. “Because ADAPT draws pharmacists from so many different environments, it helps them learn from each other, not just from their instruction materials. And that is good for their patients.”

“The ADAPT program represents a leap forward for pharmacy continuing education,” says Michael Hunt, Associate Director of Professional Development at uWaterloo. “Not only for its interactive nature, but also its emphasis on transferring learning directly to practice, instead of relying on traditional quizzes.”

“To have CAUCE recognize ADAPT as the most innovative and best program in Canada this year is a great honour and accomplishment,” adds Hunt.

Funded in part by Health Canada, ADAPT was extensively piloted in late 2010 and graduated its first full class in December 2011. For more information visit www.pharmacists.ca/adapt

The Canadian Pharmacists Association is the national organization of pharmacists, committed to providing leadership for the profession and improving the health of Canadians.

The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists is the national voluntary association of pharmacists committed to patient care through the advancement of safe, effective medication use in hospitals and other collaborative healthcare settings.

The University of Waterloo is one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities and is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow.